Cullowhee, N.C. - Junior Ryan Schade drove in a career-high five runs,
including a three-run home run in the fifth, to lead Western Carolina to
a 9-8 come-from-behind win over East Tennessee State, Friday afternoon
at Hennon Stadium. Western improves to 18-18 overall, 11-7 in the
Southern Conference, while ETSU falls to 14-22, 6-10.

With the score tied at 8-8 in the eighth, Westerns Todd Roper led off
the bottom half of the inning with a double down the left field line.
Rightfielder Rod Goldston followed with the game-winning RBI single to
left on a fake bunt.

East Tennessee jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a solo home run by
Andy Baxter just inside the right field line. The Catamounts answered
with a pair of runs in the bottom half. Roper started the frame with a
single to left and scored on Goldstons double to left when the
Buccaneers attempted to get Goldston out at second. Donovan Minero, who
was 3-for-5, singled home Goldston two batters later.

The Bucs would tie the game in the second and extend its advantage to
6-2, scoring two runs in the third and fourth innings each. In the
second, Brandon Cross hit a leadoff single, moved to second after a
single by Scott Rose and was on third after a sacrifice bunt by Kirk
Keithley. Tim Turner would plate Cross on a sacrifice fly to right. In
the third, Ryan Hyder and Nathan Copeland, who each reached on singles,
scored on a Rose single and subsequent error by Goldston. In the fourth,
Jeremy Terry and Turner began with back-to-back singles and scored after
a passed ball, a wild pitch and an RBI ground-out by Hyder.

The Catamounts cut the lead in half, 6-3, with a run in the bottom of
the fourth. Ryan McCurry hit a leadoff infield single and moved to
second on a throwing error on the play. A wild pitch put McCurry on
third and set the stage for the first of Schades five RBI, as the third
baseman hit a sacrifice fly to right to bring home McCurry.

ETSU pushed its advantage back to four runs (7-3) in the top of the
fifth. Copeland started with a double to chase Catamount starter Jared
Burton. After relief pitcher Jeff Skinner quickly recorded two outs, he
surrendered a walk and a single to Terry, allowing Copeland to score.

Western tied the game at 7-7 in the bottom half. Alan Beck reached on
the third error of the day by the Bucs and would eventually score on a
passed ball. Schade provided the other three-runs with his first career
home run, bringing home Minero, who singled, and McCurry, who was hit by
a pitch.

ETSU and WCU each scored runs in the seventh. The Bucs used consecutive
singles by Cross, Keithley and Terry to manufacture their run, while the
Catss Minero singled, stole second and scored on Schades single to
left.

Ryan Foster (2-3) picked up the win for the Catamounts, pitching the
final 2.2 innings and allowing only one hit with a walk and two
strikeouts. Westerns bullpen effectively held the Bucs in check over
the final five innings. Skinner, Dan Foley and Foster combined to
scatter six hits, allow one run, walk only two and strikeout five.
Skinner, who entered the game with 10 walks and two strikeouts on the
season, fanned three with one walk. Burton, although allowing nine hits
and seven runs (six earned) in four innings, only walked one with six
strikeouts.

Matt Nunley (2-2) was saddled with the loss in relief, allowing three
hits and one run with no walks and two strikeouts. Reid Casey pitched
six strong innings, surrendering seven hits with only three of his eight
runs being earned. He additionally fanned seven while walking four.

Western Carolina and East Tennessee State will continue the weekend
series at Hennon Stadium with a single game on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The
series finale will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m., which is a change from the
original schedule.

ETSU EVENS Series with 9-5 Win Over Western Carolina

Cullowhee, N.C. - East Tennessee right fielder Nathan Copeland hit a
two-run double in the ninth, which proved to be the game winner, as the
Buccaneers defeated Western Carolina, 9-5, Saturday afternoon at Hennon
Stadium.

ETSU (15-22, 7-10 SoCon) used a four-run ninth with only two hits to
seal the Catamounts (18-19, 11-8 SoCon) fate. Ryan Hyder started the
frame with a single to center and, after a sacrifice bunt, Andy Baxter
was intentionally walked. Copeland plated the two and scored along with
Kirk Keithley after two WCU errors. The Cats would commit five miscues
on the day.

The Catamounts mounted a threat in the bottom of the ninth, scoring two
runs on Alan Becks 12th home run of the season. ETSUs Jackson Simerly,
who pitched the final 2.2 innings, got a fly out and a ground out to end
the rally and record his first save of the season.

Simerly worked out of a jam in the seventh, entering the game with two
one and one out. He recorded consecutive outs to close the seventh and
struck out the side in the eighth.

Buccaneer starter Donnie Sharp improved to 4-1 on the season, pitching
6.1 innings. The freshman, making his fifth start of the season, allowed
five hits and three runs (one earned) with four walks and three
strikeouts.

Western Carolina started the scoring when Beck was hit by a pitch and
moved to second on a wild pitch. Todd Buchanan followed with an RBI
single to center.

The lead was short lived as ETSU responded with a pair of runs in the
second. After leadoff singles by Chad Boruff and Keithley, Jason
Brotherton delivered a one-out, RBI double. Tim Turner would bring home
Keithley on a ground out to second. The Bucs increased their lead to 3-1
in the fourth. Keithley started with a single and moved to second on an
attempted pick-off at first. Two batters later, Turner hit a two-out
single down the left field line to score Keithley.

The Catamounts tied the contest at 3-3, scoring two unearned runs in the
bottom of the fourth. After a two-out walk to Matt Price, Ryan Schade
hit a fly ball to center, which was dropped. Price scored and Schade
ended up on third. Todd Roper followed with an RBI single to right.

ETSU regained the advantage in the seventh. Turner walked and advanced
to third on a throwing error, the second of the day by WCU on an
attempted pick-off at first. Cross singled home Turner and scored on a
ground out by Copeland.

The Bucs Hyder, Baxter, Keithley, Brotherton and Turner each collected
two hits, while Turner added two RBI and Keithley had three runs scored.

Westerns Seth Foster fell to 3-2 on the season, suffering his first
loss in SoCon action. Offensively, the Cats were led by Roper (2-for-5)
and Buchanan (2-for-4). Beck was 1-for-2 with two RBI, two runs scored,
two walks and a hit by pitch.

Western Carolina and East Tennessee State will conclude the weekend
series at Hennon Stadium with a single game on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.,
which is a change from the original schedule.